The UFC can finally call its apparel deal “global.”
The MMA company announced this past weekend that it has reached a deal with Avex Brasil, the Brazilian producer of Venum, as its manufacturer and distributor of apparel sold through retailers in Brazil. UFC merchandise will hit the stores starting mid-November, both companies announced.
UFC announced in July 2020 that Venum would replace Reebok as its official exclusive outfitting partner, but MMA Fighting reported this past April that holding cards in Brazil market could become a problem because Venum didn’t have rights in the country.
Brazilian businessman Andre Vieira, one the owners of Venum alongside Franck Dupuis until the company was split into two different entities in January 2016, revealed at the time that UFC’s partnership with Venum didn’t allow the company to sell merchandise or have athletes wear the new fighter kit during events in Brazil.
Back in April, Vieira told MMA Fighting “I’m not here to be a problem,” but hadn’t “gotten any return [call].” Now, he celebrates the deal.
“We’re very happy with this partnership,” Vieira told MMA Fighting via text message on Monday. “Venum was created in Brazil so it’s more than fair to have this recognition from the UFC so we can develop UFC-Venum products and work in the Brazilian market, the world’s second biggest market. I’m sure that this partnership will be a success and Brazilian fans will be happy with the products.”
The new deal clears a potential hurdle ahead of UFC’s eventual return to Brazil once the COVID-19 pandemic allows the MMA company to travel overseas more often. The UFC, which had to move UFC 250 from Sao Paulo to the United States in May 2020 due to the health crisis, has yet to reveal plans for its next shows in Brazil.